Gregg Steinberg: Diversify your life and reduce stress, be happier

Jan. 19, 2014

Jack Nicklaus is known as the greatest golfer of all time, but he is much more than just a golfer. He designs courses and has had multiple successful business ventures. / Larry McCormack / File / The Tennessean

Written by

Gregg Steinberg

For The Tennessean

If so, then perhaps you need to diversify your life’s portfolio. Jack Nicklaus is a perfect example of someone who has diversified to find greater happiness and success.

Nicklaus is known as the greatest golfer of all time, but he is much more than just a golfer. He designs courses and has had a golf club manufacturing business, a sports agency and a clothing line. Recently, he developed a new golf ball.

When you diversify, you reduce your stress levels. When you place all your ego eggs into one basket, you will have a greater need to perform well at one activity to get those self-esteem points.

If Jack Nicklaus saw himself as only a golfer, then every time he stepped onto the course, he would feel pressure to win. Nicklaus reduced his stress levels by spreading the wealth. Nicklaus has mentioned that all his business interests provided the getaways from golf that refreshed him and renewed his eagerness for competitive golf. Diversifying decreased golf burnout.

Are you unidimensional? Are you so focused on your job that you have disregarded any outside activities in your life? Or are you multidimensional like Jack Nicklaus?

The ironic part of being multidimensional and having balance is that it increases your production by taking time away. When you have many interests to give you balance, as Nicklaus does, you will have greater levels of energy because of lower levels of stress. As a result, you will most likely produce at higher levels for longer periods of time.

Unfortunately, many people in business do not see the irony in balance. They believe it is a badge of honor to work 80 hours a week and never take time out to have an outside hobby or go on a vacation.

Lee Iacocca, of Chrysler fame, has said, “I have seen many executives who have said with pride to me, ‘Boy, I worked so hard last year I did not even take a vacation.’ ” To Iacocca, such thinking was foolish. He says that if you can take responsibility for an $80 million project, then you should be able to plan for outside activities in your life.

Increase your happiness and lower your stress levels by diversifying and becoming more multidimensional in your lifestyle. Add meaningful and fulfilling activities and your life will accrue more pleasure in the long run.

Gregg Steinberg is a professor of human performance at Austin Peay State University. He is author of the best-selling business book “Full Throttle” and speaks to businesses about improving attitude and performance. See www.drgreggsteinberg.com.